Vista Home Basic joining SBS 2003 Network

[Guest]

I fear we'll have bad news for this user that ran out and got a Vista Home
Basic computer and now wants to join an SBS2003 Domain and be able to access
server shares remotely. For those that have been through this... what is the
path to get Vista Home basic into a Small Business Server services?

 

[Malke]

I fear we'll have bad news for this user that ran out and got a Vista Home
Basic computer and now wants to join an SBS2003 Domain and be able to access
server shares remotely. For those that have been through this... what is the
path to get Vista Home basic into a Small Business Server services?

None of the Vista Home versions can join a domain, just like XP Home/MCE
couldn't. Vista Home versions can use domain resources, just like XP
Home/MCE versions could. The user will need to have matching credentials
(user account/password) on the server and will need to enter these every
time s/he connects to the domain.

These articles were written for XP, but the information is applicable to
Vista Home versions:

Why Windows XP Professional is Best for Domain-Based Networks -
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/home/evaluation/overviews/joindommore.asp
Windows XP in a Domain Environment -
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/home/evaluation/overviews/xpindomain.asp
Windows XP Home Accessing data on a Domain Server -
http://www.windowsnetworking.com/articles_tutorials/wxphdoms.html

If entering the credentials each time is too onerous, your user needs to
upgrade to either Vista Business or Vista Ultimate.


Malke

 

[Guest]

Thanks for the input and links!
Two followup questions:
One, can Vista Home use Remote Connection (VPN) to the SBS 2003 server.
Two, I see the recommendation to upgrade to Vista Business or Home
Premium... couldn't one also "downgrade" to Windows XP Pro too? Is there a
path/purchase for this? TIA - Dodge

 

[Malke]

Thanks for the input and links!
Two followup questions:
One, can Vista Home use Remote Connection (VPN) to the SBS 2003 server.
Two, I see the recommendation to upgrade to Vista Business or Home
Premium... couldn't one also "downgrade" to Windows XP Pro too? Is there a
path/purchase for this? TIA - Dodge

1. Re the VPN, I don't know that answer. Someone who does know might see
this thread, but you could also post the question in
microsoft.public.windows.vista.networking_sharing or in one of the
Server newsgroups. Here's a list of all the MS newsgroups:

http://aumha.org/nntp.htm

2. Re downgrade rights - normally you get downgrade rights when you
purchase an MS operating system under Volume Licensing. This would give
you the right to downgrade from Vista Business (say) to XP Pro and you
(the corporate IT person) would already have your XP installation media.
Having downgrade rights doesn't magically get you a free copy of XP.

From what I gather this is a computer purchased by a user, probably
from an OEM (Dell, HP, Sony, etc.). I can't imagine that a corporation
would have a Volume License for Vista Home[anyversion] anyway. If this
is correct the user needs to:

a. Check on the computer mftr.'s tech support site for that specific
model to see if drivers are even offered for XP. Many less expensive
models - in the HP line for instance - only support Vista. If drivers
are available for XP, the user would need to purchase a retail copy of
XP and do a clean install. If drivers are not available, the user should
return the machine and purchase one with Vista Business/Ultimate
preinstalled or keep the machine for home user and purchase another
computer running the right operating system.


Malke

 

[Lang Murphy]

Thanks for the input and links!
Two followup questions:
One, can Vista Home use Remote Connection (VPN) to the SBS 2003 server.
Two, I see the recommendation to upgrade to Vista Business or Home
Premium... couldn't one also "downgrade" to Windows XP Pro too? Is there a
path/purchase for this? TIA - Dodge

<snip>

One VPN's into a VPN gateway. That is, I think, usually not a SBS server,
but I could be wrong; don't know if an SBS server can act as a VPN gateway.
Point being, one usually has to authenticate to the VPN gateway which may or
may not include an AD authentication. I VPN into three separate networks
from here and they all use my domain accounts to authenticate. (I admit I'm
a little out of my league here... one hopes others will clarify...)

And... if you mean "Remote Desktop Connection" (RDC) when you say, above,
"Remote Connection," well... RDC and VPN are two totally separate things.
One would have to make the VPN connection prior to making the RDC
connection.

And... if both PC's are on the same network and authentication (and VPN) is
not an issue... then, yes, Vista Home Premium should be able to RDC into the
SBS server. (Assuming the server's remote desktop access from other
computers is enabled and the user acct trying to RD into the server has the
required permissions.)

Lang